Scottsdale Construction Accident Wrongful Death Lawyer

Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in Arizona, and when safety failures lead to a worker’s death, families face devastating emotional and financial consequences. In Scottsdale, families who lose loved ones in construction accidents have the right to pursue wrongful death claims against parties whose negligence caused the fatal incident. A qualified Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer can help families hold negligent contractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers accountable while securing the financial compensation they need to move forward.

Construction accident wrongful death cases differ fundamentally from standard wrongful death claims because they involve complex workplace safety regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and intricate insurance coverage issues. Arizona’s construction industry operates under both state laws and federal OSHA regulations that establish specific safety standards for scaffolding, fall protection, excavation, electrical work, and equipment operation. When these standards are violated and a worker dies as a result, families deserve more than just workers’ compensation benefits, they deserve full justice through a wrongful death lawsuit that addresses the true extent of their loss.

If you’ve lost a family member in a Scottsdale construction accident, Wrongful Death Trial Attorney LLC understands the unique challenges you face during this difficult time. Our experienced legal team specializes in construction accident wrongful death cases throughout Scottsdale and the surrounding areas, and we know how to investigate these complex incidents, identify all responsible parties, and fight for maximum compensation. Contact us today at (480) 420-0500 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help your family pursue justice and financial security.

Understanding Construction Accident Wrongful Death Claims in Scottsdale

A construction accident wrongful death claim arises when a worker dies due to unsafe conditions, negligent supervision, defective equipment, or violations of safety regulations at a construction site. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-611, certain family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages that go beyond what workers’ compensation provides. These claims seek compensation for the full impact of the loss including the emotional devastation, lost financial support, and the pain the deceased worker experienced before death.

Construction sites present unique hazards that make them statistically more dangerous than most other workplaces. Falls from heights, electrocutions, being struck by equipment or materials, and caught-in or caught-between accidents account for the majority of construction fatalities according to OSHA’s “Fatal Four” classifications. When these accidents occur due to someone’s negligence rather than unavoidable circumstances, the responsible parties can be held liable through a wrongful death lawsuit separate from any workers’ compensation claim.

The legal foundation for these claims rests on proving that specific parties breached their duty to maintain a safe construction environment and that this breach directly caused the worker’s death. Multiple parties beyond the direct employer may bear responsibility including general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and safety consultants. A Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer evaluates every aspect of the accident to identify all liable parties and maximize the compensation available to the surviving family.

Common Causes of Fatal Construction Accidents

Falls from Heights

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated work platforms represent the leading cause of construction worker deaths in Arizona. These accidents often result from inadequate fall protection systems, improperly erected scaffolding, defective safety harnesses, or lack of guardrails on elevated surfaces.

OSHA regulations under 29 CFR 1926.501 require specific fall protection measures for workers at heights of six feet or more, yet many construction companies fail to implement these protections properly. When contractors cut corners on fall protection to save time or money, and a worker dies as a result, they can be held fully accountable through a wrongful death lawsuit.

Electrocution Accidents

Construction workers face constant exposure to electrical hazards including overhead power lines, underground utilities, faulty wiring, and energized equipment. Electrocution deaths occur when contractors fail to identify electrical hazards, neglect to de-energize lines before work begins, or provide inadequate training on electrical safety.

These accidents are almost always preventable with proper planning and adherence to electrical safety protocols established by OSHA and the National Electrical Code. When an electrocution death occurs due to a contractor’s failure to follow these standards, families have strong grounds for a wrongful death claim.

Struck-By Accidents

Workers can be struck and killed by falling tools, collapsing walls, swinging loads from cranes, or moving vehicles and equipment. These accidents typically result from inadequate site planning, failure to establish safe work zones, improper operation of cranes and hoisting equipment, or lack of communication between work crews.

Arizona construction sites must comply with specific OSHA regulations governing equipment operation, load securement, and traffic control. Violations of these regulations that lead to a worker’s death create clear liability for the parties responsible for site safety.

Caught-In or Caught-Between Accidents

Trench collapses, equipment entanglements, and being caught between machinery and fixed objects cause numerous construction deaths each year. Trenching and excavation work is particularly dangerous, with OSHA requiring specific protective systems for trenches deeper than five feet under 29 CFR 1926.652.

When contractors fail to properly shore trenches, provide protective systems, or maintain equipment guards, and a worker dies after being caught or crushed, the resulting wrongful death claim can pursue full compensation from all negligent parties.

Defective Equipment and Tools

Construction workers rely on equipment and tools that must meet strict safety standards. When manufacturers produce defective scaffolding, faulty safety harnesses, malfunctioning power tools, or equipment lacking proper safety guards, these defects can cause fatal accidents.

Product liability claims can be pursued alongside negligence claims when defective equipment contributes to a construction worker’s death. These claims hold manufacturers, distributors, and sometimes equipment rental companies accountable for releasing dangerous products.

Parties Who May Be Liable in Construction Accident Deaths

General Contractors

The general contractor typically controls the construction site and bears primary responsibility for overall safety conditions. They must coordinate subcontractors, establish safety protocols, conduct regular inspections, and ensure all work complies with OSHA regulations and building codes.

When general contractors fail in these duties and a worker dies, they can be held liable even if the deceased worker was employed by a subcontractor. Their broad authority over the site creates corresponding legal responsibility for maintaining safe conditions.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors who perform specific portions of construction work have direct responsibility for the safety of their own employees and for ensuring their work doesn’t create hazards for others. If a subcontractor’s negligent practices, inadequate training, or safety violations cause a worker’s death, they face liability in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Subcontractors cannot escape responsibility by claiming they followed the general contractor’s instructions if those instructions violated safety regulations. Each contractor has an independent duty to refuse unsafe work and report hazardous conditions.

Property Owners

Property owners who maintain control over construction site operations or who fail to disclose known hazards can be held liable for construction deaths. Arizona law under A.R.S. § 12-714 does provide limited immunity to property owners for injuries to independent contractors in some situations, but this protection does not apply when owners retain control over the work, actively participate in creating the hazard, or fail to warn of hidden dangers they knew about.

A thorough investigation determines whether the property owner’s actions or inactions contributed to the fatal accident. If they directed unsafe work methods, failed to provide adequate time for safe completion, or created dangerous conditions, they share liability.

Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers

When defective equipment, tools, or safety gear causes or contributes to a construction worker’s death, the manufacturers and suppliers of those products can be held strictly liable under Arizona product liability law. These claims do not require proving negligence, only that the product was defectively designed, manufactured, or lacked adequate warnings and that this defect caused the death.

Equipment rental companies may also face liability if they rent equipment they know to be defective or if they fail to maintain rental equipment properly. Their responsibility extends to ensuring that equipment leaving their control meets all safety standards.

Safety Consultants and Engineers

Construction projects often involve safety consultants, structural engineers, and other professionals who provide expertise on safe work methods. If these professionals provide negligent advice, fail to identify obvious hazards, or approve unsafe work plans, they can be held liable when their professional failures contribute to a worker’s death.

Professional liability claims against these parties require demonstrating that they breached the standard of care expected in their profession and that this breach was a substantial factor in causing the fatal accident.

Arizona Wrongful Death Laws Applicable to Construction Accidents

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim

Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-612 establishes a specific hierarchy of who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit. The surviving spouse has the exclusive right to file for the first year after the death. If no spouse exists or if the spouse does not file within one year, the deceased worker’s children may bring the claim.

If the worker left no surviving spouse or children, the parents or personal representative of the estate may file the lawsuit. Only one wrongful death claim can be filed per death, so all eligible family members typically join together in a single lawsuit to protect everyone’s interests.

Statute of Limitations for Construction Death Claims

Under A.R.S. § 12-542, wrongful death lawsuits in Arizona must be filed within two years from the date of the person’s death. This deadline is absolute, and courts will dismiss claims filed even one day late except in very rare circumstances involving fraud or concealment.

Construction accident investigations take time, but families cannot wait until the two-year deadline approaches to take action. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and companies destroy records according to their retention schedules. Starting the legal process early preserves crucial evidence and protects the family’s right to compensation.

Relationship to Workers’ Compensation

Arizona requires most construction companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides death benefits to surviving family members regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, workers’ compensation death benefits are limited, typically including only burial expenses and a portion of the deceased worker’s wages for a set period.

Wrongful death lawsuits provide far more comprehensive compensation including full economic losses, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. Importantly, when a third party other than the direct employer caused the death, families can pursue both workers’ compensation death benefits and a full wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible third parties. The workers’ compensation carrier may have a lien on the wrongful death recovery, but families still typically receive substantially more than workers’ compensation alone would provide.

Damages Available in Construction Accident Wrongful Death Cases

Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses the family suffered due to the death. These include the deceased worker’s lost future earnings calculated over their expected remaining work life, lost benefits including health insurance and retirement contributions, and funeral and burial expenses.

Calculating economic damages in construction cases requires expert testimony from economists and vocational specialists who project what the worker would have earned throughout their career. Arizona does not cap economic damages in wrongful death cases, meaning families can recover the full amount of their financial losses regardless of how large that sum may be.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the intangible losses that cannot be measured in dollars but are equally real and devastating. These include loss of companionship and consortium for the surviving spouse, loss of parental guidance and nurturing for children, mental anguish and emotional distress, and loss of the deceased’s love, care, and protection.

Arizona law does not cap non-economic damages in construction accident wrongful death cases, recognizing that no amount of money can truly compensate for losing a loved one. The value of these damages depends on factors such as the nature of the family relationships, the deceased’s role in the family, and the age and life expectancy of both the deceased and the survivors.

Survival Action Damages

Arizona law allows a separate “survival action” under A.R.S. § 14-3110 that compensates for what the deceased worker experienced before death. If the worker survived for any period after the accident, the estate can recover damages for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages during that period, and loss of enjoyment of life.

These damages become part of the deceased’s estate and are distributed according to their will or Arizona intestacy laws. They provide additional compensation beyond what the wrongful death claim itself recovers.

The Process of Filing a Construction Accident Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Initial Investigation and Evidence Gathering

The foundation of every successful construction accident wrongful death case is a thorough investigation that begins immediately after the death. Your Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer will visit the accident site, photograph conditions, identify and interview witnesses, and secure all available documentation before evidence disappears.

This investigation extends beyond the accident scene to include reviewing OSHA inspection reports, obtaining company safety records, analyzing maintenance logs for equipment involved in the accident, and consulting with construction safety experts who can identify regulation violations and industry standard breaches. The faster this investigation begins, the stronger the evidence available to support the claim.

Identifying All Responsible Parties

Construction sites typically involve multiple companies and individuals who may share responsibility for a worker’s death. Your attorney will analyze contracts, insurance policies, and business relationships to identify every entity that played a role in creating the unsafe condition that caused the death.

This process often reveals parties the family would never have considered, such as equipment rental companies, staffing agencies, safety consultants, or upstream contractors whose work created hidden hazards. Identifying all defendants maximizes the insurance coverage and assets available to compensate the family.

Filing the Wrongful Death Complaint

Once the investigation identifies the responsible parties and establishes the legal grounds for the claim, your attorney will file a formal complaint in Arizona Superior Court. The complaint names all defendants, describes how their negligence caused the death, specifies the damages the family seeks, and establishes the legal basis for holding each defendant liable.

Arizona’s rules of civil procedure govern the formal requirements for the complaint and the process for serving it on each defendant. This filing officially initiates the lawsuit and starts the clock on various procedural deadlines that will govern the case going forward.

Discovery Process

After defendants file their answers to the complaint, the case enters the discovery phase where both sides exchange information and evidence. This includes written interrogatories that defendants must answer under oath, requests for production of documents including safety records and internal communications, and depositions where witnesses and parties give sworn testimony that can be used at trial.

Discovery in construction cases often takes many months because of the volume of documents, the number of witnesses, and the technical complexity of the evidence. Your attorney will use this process to build an overwhelming case by forcing defendants to produce their own records that demonstrate safety violations and negligence.

Expert Witness Preparation

Construction accident wrongful death cases require testimony from multiple experts who can explain technical issues to the jury. These experts may include construction safety specialists who identify regulation violations, engineers who analyze whether structures or equipment met industry standards, economists who calculate future financial losses, and medical experts who explain the cause of death and any suffering the deceased experienced.

Your attorney will work with these experts throughout the case, providing them with evidence, having them prepare detailed reports, and preparing them to testify effectively at depositions and trial. The quality of expert testimony often determines the outcome of construction accident cases.

Settlement Negotiations

Most construction accident wrongful death cases settle before trial, often after defendants realize the strength of the evidence against them. Your Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer will negotiate aggressively with defense attorneys and insurance companies to secure a settlement that fully compensates your family for all economic and non-economic losses.

Settlement offers typically increase as trial approaches and defendants face the reality of presenting their weak defenses to a jury. Your attorney will advise you on whether settlement offers are fair based on the strength of the evidence and the likely outcome if the case proceeds to trial.

Trial

If settlement negotiations fail to produce a fair offer, your attorney will take the case to trial where a jury will hear all the evidence and determine which parties are liable and what damages they must pay. Construction accident wrongful death trials typically last one to three weeks depending on the number of defendants and the complexity of the technical evidence.

Your attorney will present your case through witness testimony, expert opinions, photographs, videos, documents, and demonstrative exhibits that help the jury understand what happened and why the defendants are responsible. The trial concludes with the jury’s verdict specifying the amount of damages each defendant must pay.

How OSHA Violations Impact Construction Death Claims

OSHA’s Role in Construction Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes and enforces detailed safety standards for construction sites under 29 CFR Part 1926. These regulations cover everything from fall protection and scaffolding to electrical safety, excavation, and equipment operation. Construction companies must comply with these regulations, and OSHA conducts inspections and issues citations when violations are found.

When a construction worker dies, OSHA typically conducts an investigation to determine whether safety violations contributed to the death. These investigations produce detailed reports that identify specific regulation violations, describe unsafe conditions, and often explicitly state that these violations caused or contributed to the fatality.

Using OSHA Citations as Evidence

OSHA citations issued after a fatal construction accident provide powerful evidence in wrongful death lawsuits. While OSHA citations are not automatically admissible in civil court, experienced attorneys know how to introduce this evidence through expert testimony and other means to demonstrate that defendants violated established safety standards.

A finding by OSHA that a company committed a “willful” or “repeat” violation creates strong evidence of negligence that can support punitive damages in some cases. Even “serious” violations demonstrate that the company knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to correct it, establishing the breach of duty required to prove negligence.

Limitations of OSHA Enforcement

While OSHA citations strengthen wrongful death claims, OSHA’s own enforcement powers are limited. Maximum penalties for safety violations are relatively small compared to the damages available in wrongful death lawsuits, and OSHA cannot compensate families for their losses or hold companies fully accountable for causing a worker’s death.

Only a wrongful death lawsuit provides families with meaningful justice and full compensation. Your Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer will use OSHA findings as one component of a comprehensive case that pursues every dollar of compensation the law allows.

Challenges in Construction Accident Wrongful Death Cases

Multiple Insurance Policies and Coverage Disputes

Construction projects typically involve numerous insurance policies covering different parties, including general liability policies, umbrella policies, workers’ compensation insurance, and contractor liability coverage. Determining which policies apply and how much coverage exists requires detailed analysis of policy language, coverage triggers, and exclusions.

Insurance companies frequently dispute coverage, claiming their policy doesn’t apply to the accident or that exclusions limit their obligation. Your attorney must be prepared to litigate coverage issues while simultaneously pursuing the underlying wrongful death claim, sometimes bringing insurance companies into the lawsuit to force them to defend their insureds and pay valid claims.

Defendants Blaming Each Other

In construction cases with multiple defendants, each party typically tries to shift blame to others to minimize their own liability. The general contractor may claim the subcontractor was solely responsible, while the subcontractor argues the general contractor failed to provide a safe work environment, and equipment manufacturers claim the accident resulted from misuse rather than defects.

These finger-pointing battles actually benefit the plaintiff’s case by having defendants produce evidence against each other. Your attorney will use defendants’ mutual accusations to build a comprehensive picture of all the failures that contributed to your loved one’s death, ensuring that every responsible party pays their fair share.

Technical Complexity

Construction accident cases involve complex technical issues that require specialized knowledge to understand and explain. Juries must comprehend construction methods, safety regulations, industry standards, and engineering principles to evaluate whether defendants breached their duties.

Overcoming this complexity requires exceptional presentation skills and the ability to break down technical concepts into understandable terms. Your attorney will use demonstrative exhibits, computer animations, and expert testimony to make complex issues clear and show exactly how defendants’ negligence caused the fatal accident.

Why Families Need a Specialized Construction Accident Lawyer

Unique Industry Knowledge Required

Construction accident wrongful death cases differ fundamentally from other types of personal injury or wrongful death claims because they require deep understanding of construction industry practices, safety regulations, equipment operation, and the relationships between different parties on a construction site. An attorney without this specialized knowledge cannot effectively identify all the ways defendants violated safety standards or recognize all the parties who may bear liability.

A Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer who focuses on construction cases knows how to read and interpret OSHA regulations, understands construction industry standards and practices, recognizes common safety violations, and knows which experts to consult for different types of construction accidents. This specialized knowledge makes the difference between a settlement that barely covers funeral expenses and a recovery that truly compensates the family and holds all responsible parties accountable.

Resources for Comprehensive Investigation

Building a winning construction accident wrongful death case requires substantial resources for investigation, expert consultation, document analysis, and trial preparation. Large construction companies and their insurance carriers will spare no expense defending these cases, and families need an attorney with the financial resources and professional network to match their efforts.

Established construction accident law firms maintain relationships with the leading experts in construction safety, have access to accident reconstruction specialists and engineers, can afford the costs of deposing multiple witnesses across different companies, and have the trial experience to present complex cases effectively to juries. Choosing an attorney who handles these cases regularly ensures the family has the resources needed to win.

Protection from Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance companies that defend construction accident wrongful death cases employ sophisticated tactics to minimize payouts and shift blame to the deceased worker. They may claim the worker contributed to their own death by violating company safety rules, argue that the accident resulted from the worker’s own negligence rather than company failures, or pressure families to accept inadequate settlements before they understand the full value of their claim.

An experienced Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer knows these tactics and will not allow insurance companies to take advantage of grieving families. Your attorney will handle all communications with insurance adjusters, reject inadequate settlement offers, and fight to prove that company negligence, not worker error, caused the death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if my family member’s employer has workers’ compensation insurance?

Yes, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit against third parties even though workers’ compensation covers the death, because workers’ compensation only protects the direct employer from lawsuits while other negligent parties remain fully liable. In construction accidents, third parties often include general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and safety consultants who contributed to the unsafe conditions that caused the death.

How long do I have to file a construction accident wrongful death claim in Arizona?

Arizona law gives you two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit under A.R.S. § 12-542, but you should contact an attorney immediately rather than waiting because evidence disappears quickly and early investigation is crucial. The two-year deadline is absolute, and courts will dismiss cases filed even one day late except in extremely rare circumstances, so protecting your rights requires prompt action.

What compensation can my family receive in a construction accident wrongful death case?

Your family can recover full economic damages including all lost future earnings, lost benefits, and funeral expenses, plus non-economic damages for loss of companionship, guidance, and the emotional devastation of losing your loved one, with no caps on either category in construction accident cases. Additional survival action damages may also be available for the pain and suffering your loved one experienced before death if they survived for any period after the accident.

Will I have to pay attorney fees upfront to pursue a wrongful death claim?

No, Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs and the attorney only receives payment as a percentage of the compensation recovered. If the attorney doesn’t win your case, you owe nothing, which allows families to pursue justice without financial risk regardless of their current financial situation.

How is fault determined when multiple companies were working at the construction site?

Arizona applies comparative negligence principles that allow juries to assign different percentages of fault to multiple defendants based on each party’s contribution to the unsafe conditions that caused the death. Each defendant then pays damages in proportion to their assigned percentage of fault, so a defendant found 30% responsible pays 30% of the total damages awarded, ensuring that all negligent parties share the financial consequences of their failures.

Can I sue if my family member violated a company safety rule before the accident?

Yes, you can still pursue a wrongful death claim even if your loved one violated a safety rule, because Arizona’s comparative negligence law allows recovery as long as the deceased was not 100% at fault. Companies often try to blame workers for their own deaths by pointing to minor rule violations, but if company negligence created the dangerous condition in the first place, provided inadequate training, or failed to enforce safety rules consistently, the company still bears substantial responsibility and must pay damages reduced only by the percentage of fault assigned to the deceased worker.

What happens if the construction company declares bankruptcy during the lawsuit?

If a defendant files for bankruptcy during your wrongful death case, the lawsuit is automatically stayed against that defendant under federal bankruptcy law, but you can still pursue claims against other defendants and their insurance carriers. Your attorney will file a claim in the bankruptcy proceeding to preserve your rights against the bankrupt company and its insurance policies, and in many cases, the bankruptcy court will allow the wrongful death case to proceed because insurance coverage exists to pay the claim without affecting the bankrupt company’s assets.

How long does a construction accident wrongful death case typically take?

Most construction accident wrongful death cases settle within 18 to 36 months from filing the lawsuit, though complex cases with multiple defendants or disputed liability issues may take longer. Cases that proceed all the way to trial generally take two to four years from initial filing to final judgment, but the timeline depends heavily on the court’s schedule, the number of defendants, discovery disputes, and whether appeals follow the trial verdict.

Will my case definitely go to trial or can it be settled?

The vast majority of construction accident wrongful death cases settle before trial, often during the later stages of discovery when defendants fully understand the strength of the evidence against them. However, your attorney must always prepare as if the case will go to trial because this preparation pressure is what motivates defendants to make fair settlement offers, and only by showing readiness and willingness to try the case can your family secure maximum compensation.

Can we sue for punitive damages in a construction accident wrongful death case?

Arizona law allows punitive damages under A.R.S. § 12-613 when a defendant’s conduct showed evil mind or conscious disregard for safety, which may apply in construction cases involving willful safety violations, repeated OSHA citations, or deliberate decisions to ignore known hazards to save money. Punitive damages are awarded separately from compensatory damages and are intended to punish particularly egregious conduct and deter similar behavior, potentially adding substantial additional compensation beyond your economic and non-economic losses.

Contact a Scottsdale Construction Accident Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

Losing a family member in a construction accident is devastating, and no amount of money can truly compensate for your loss, but pursuing a wrongful death claim provides justice by holding negligent parties accountable and securing the financial resources your family needs to move forward. The construction companies and insurance carriers responsible for your loved one’s death will work aggressively to minimize their liability and pay as little as possible, making it essential that you have an experienced advocate fighting for your family’s rights. At Wrongful Death Trial Attorney LLC, we understand the unique challenges of construction accident wrongful death cases and have the knowledge, resources, and commitment to pursue maximum compensation for your family while you focus on healing and rebuilding your lives.

Every construction accident wrongful death case is unique, and understanding your specific legal options requires a detailed consultation with an attorney who can review the circumstances of your loved one’s death and explain how Arizona law applies to your situation. We offer free, confidential consultations where we will answer your questions, explain the legal process, and help you make informed decisions about how to proceed without any obligation or upfront costs. Time is critical in these cases because evidence disappears and witnesses become harder to locate as time passes, so contacting an attorney now protects your family’s rights and strengthens your potential claim. Call Wrongful Death Trial Attorney LLC today at (480) 420-0500 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with a dedicated Scottsdale construction accident wrongful death lawyer who will fight tirelessly for the justice and compensation your family deserves.